First-round selections Jacob Lombard and Gio Rojas headline a wave of elite talent bypassing Coral Gables for multi-million dollar contracts as the MLB Draft reshapes the Miami Hurricanes' roster.
MIAMI, Fla. – Unlike basketball and football, high school baseball players have the opportunity to go pro immediately. There is no requirement to undergo a collegiate season before the MLB Draft. It might leave programs scattered from a recruiting standpoint.
The first day of the MLB Draft took place on Saturday and two of the Miami Hurricanes' 2026 class top signees – shortstop Jacob Lombard and left-handed pitcher Gio Rojas – were selected in the opening round. The program still has 10 players expected to play for coach J.D. Arteaga, including shortstop Rookie Shepard, who withdrew from the draft.
Lombard – selected No. 14 by the Miami Marlins – attended Pinecrest’s Gulliver Preparatory School. As a senior, he batted .477 with a 1.471 OPS, including 42 hits in 88 at-bats, four doubles, 25 runs batted in, and 10 home runs in 29 games. Lombard was the fourth shortstop taken, only behind UCLA’s Roch Cholowsky, Fort Worth Christian’s Grady Emerson, and Kentucky’s Tyler Bell.
The 18-year-old’s pick value is set at $5.44 million.
Lombard comes from a rich baseball family history. George Lombard – father – played six seasons in the majors. The outfielder’s most remarkable season was in 2002 with the Detroit Tigers. Lombard batted .241 with a .674 OPS, including 58 hits in 241 at-bats, 11 doubles, three triples, 13 runs batted in, and five home runs in 72 games.
There’s George Lombard Jr. – older brother – who is currently in the New York Yankees’ farm system. He’s recovering from a hand injury and on the brink of a call-up to the majors. Lombard Jr. is batting .258 with a .833 OPS, including 60 hits in 233 at-bats, 20 doubles, 25 runs batted in, and eight home runs in 62 games.
The 21-year-old is currently the No. 20 prospect in the minors – best on the Yankees.
Rojas – selected No. 16 by the Texas Rangers – attended Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. As a senior, he finished with an 11-1 record in 13 total appearances, including a couple of starts. Rojas had a 0.58 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 72.2 innings pitched.
The pick value is set at $5.05 million.
Rojas was the second pitcher taken off the board – only behind UC Santa Barbara’s Jackson Flora (selected No. 4 by the San Francisco Giants).
The Hurricanes’ 2026 recruiting class is still among the nation’s best, but it took a couple of hits. However, Day 2 – rounds 5 to 20 – will start today at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time. It will shape out which veterans depart or return for the 2027 college season.
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Anthony Aguirre is the Miami Hurricanes beat writer for Roundtable Sports. Contact info: [email protected] | 305-987-3290 | Follow on Instagram/X: @AnthonyA_Sports
